Wet Punishment

Mang Pedong, the witch doctor, thought it was the diwata. He had had a similar case before. A naughty kid who was taken to him because of a water-swollen penis. "Did you urinate on the foot of an old tree or on an anthill?"

Pepito looked away as if trying to remember. He looked back to Mang Pedong and nodded. "Yes, Mang Pedong."

"Where?" said Mang Pedong, knitting his graying eyebrows.

"Under a Talisay tree in school." Pepito was twisting his face. The pain he had between his groin worsened.

Mang Pedong bowed to Pepito's worried mother, Aling Pepita. She had been waiting for the recommendation on his son's misery. He walked slowly to the small kitchen of his rickety hut. He went back to them with a glass of water. In front of them, he put a spell on it, while Pepito was looking at his yellowish lips and blackening teeth. "Drink this." Mang Pedong pushed the glass to Pepito.